Medical Center Library Spring 2025 Research Workshop Series Kicks Off Jan. 22

The Medical Center Library will begin its Spring 2025 Research Workshop Series on Jan. 22.

Held on Zoom, the virtual seminars help students, faculty, and staff improve and expand their research skills and make more efficient use of library resources. The workshops are primarily concerned with research competencies in the health sciences, but the subjects are pertinent to researchers across a variety of disciplines. 

The Spring 2025 series will cover topics that range from search biases, gray literature, and bibliometrics to animal and drug research.

The workshops are free to attend and open to all UK students, faculty, staff, and affiliated researchers. Pre-registration is required to attend workshops. Attendees who have registered will be provided with a recording of the presentation. 

Find more details and register for the workshops, and contact mclib@uky.edu with any questions.

Spring 2025 Series

The Spring 2025 workshops begin in mid-January and run to late April. Below, find a detailed description and registration link for each:

• PubMed Essentials
  • Wednesday, January 22, 2025
  • 12pm - 1pm
  • Learn how to capitalize on PubMed’s research support capabilities by discovering its suite of tools and customizations. Build a search in PubMed using features including MeSH headings, keywords and field codes, limits and other features.
  • Register here.
     
• Bibliometric Basics
  • Wednesday, January 29, 2025
  • 12pm - 1pm
  • What are bibliometrics, and do they matter? Learn how to assess research influence and make meaning out of stats like Journal Impact Factor, H-Index, and  Altmetrics.
  • Register here.
     
• Romancing the Research: Gray Literature and Pre-Prints
  • Thursday, February 13, 2025
  • 12pm - 1pm
  • Consider other types of research by learning about gray literature and pre-prints. Major types of gray literature that will be discussed include clinical trials, datasets, dissertations & theses, and government reports. This workshop will teach you what gray literature and pre-prints are, where to find them, and their different uses in research.
  • Register here.
     
• How You Build Your Search Matters: Unveiling the Bias
  • Thursday, March 6, 2025
  • 12pm - 1pm
  • Learn to recognize the different types of bias that can affect literature searches and discover practical strategies to minimize both your own biases and those inherent in databases, ensuring more accurate and comprehensive search results. Whether you are a novice researcher or an experienced academic, this workshop offers valuable insights to enhance your ability to critically assess search strategies and results, fostering a more objective approach to literature research.
  • Register here.
     
• Setting Yourself Up for Success with Library Resources
  • Wednesday, March 12, 2025
  • 12pm - 1pm
  • Learn how to make the most of the Medical Center Library’s resources and services. This session will equip you with the tools and techniques to efficiently navigate and utilize our library services. You'll learn how to quickly access articles with LibKey, use EndNote's Cite While You Write feature, find eBooks and journals, download mobile apps, and connect Google Scholar with the library's collection.
  • Register here.
     
• Effective and Responsible Database Searching for Animal Research
  • Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • 12pm - 1pm
  • Learn strategies for finding high-quality, relevant studies to minimize the use of animals and ensure adherence to ethical standards. In this workshop learn to employ comprehensive search techniques and validated filters to find (or not find) relevant literature. This is a great session for those submitting protocols to IACUC.
  • Register here.
     
• Free and Clear: An Introduction to Reliable Open Access Drug Searching Resources
  • Wednesday, April 30, 2025
  • 12pm - 1pm
  • Choosing the right resource for drug searching can be challenging, especially for individuals in community pharmacies and clinics without research support. This presentation will introduce users to open access drug resources from the FDA and National Library of Medicine that are trustworthy, effective, and free for everyone.
  • Register here.

The Reviews Are In

Past workshop participants have universally applauded their experience. In surveys following the workshops, 100% of participants who filled out the survey indicated that they had learned something new. 

“This was the clearest presentation of concrete steps for data management that I've ever seen,” commented one participant. Other commenters raved about the new techniques, tools, and resources they were able to add to their research repertoires.

Workshop contents met the expectations of 100% of participants who filled out the survey. 

Experience them for yourself – and catch up on what you’ve missed in prior years. The MCL has past workshop recordings and associated slides available for public view. Topics include:

• Introductory tutorials for tools, resources, and software used in health sciences research
• In-depth guidance and advanced search training for popular databases
• Extensive coverage of systematic reviews and other evidence synthesis projects

In the mood for more? Visit our Research Workshops & Tutorials page to find all of UK Libraries’ offerings, including our Digital Scholarship & Data Workshops & Events.